26 Quotes by Sheryl Garrett

This way, both spouses are kept in the loop, and there are no secrets. There's no blame, no shame. It's taking your financial pulse: Did we meet our goals? What can be done better? You don't want to beat each other up--you want to make the finances work better.

Don't leap until you know exactly what you can afford and how you'll afford it. Stretch, but don't dream impossible dreams.

Don't fall for the pitch '15 months is as good as cash'?even if you have lawn furniture in your living room. Retailers know that most customers won't pay in full within 15 months, and they'll be charged interest from day one. So, if you sign up for such a plan, be sure to put one-fifteenth of the full payment in a special account each month and pay in full at the end of the interest-free term.

There's nothing finite or tangible about an electronic transfer or use of a credit card. We don't feel the pain of parting with our cash, but we still get the high from making a purchase.

Bailing your kids out of a self-inflicted financial mistake is going backward. A credit card can teach a kid when to stop spending. The lesson will be lost if parents keep bailing the student out.

I like to use cash, and I recommend it to others. I'm a big fan of envelopes and putting aside cash for specific items. If the 'dining out' envelope has only $12 left near the end of the month, you know it's time to stay home and open a can of soup.

A good family-law attorney or a good certified divorce financial analyst or certified financial planner is going to help you measure the value of the asset you think you want to keep.

The concept of longevity could very likely be the most dangerous subject that financial planners and individuals project,